Tech Transfer CentralThe world's leading content provider for continuing professional development in tech transfer and research commercialization2015-03-31T17:40:10Zhttp://techtransfercentral.com/feed/atom/WordPressDavid Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277962015-03-25T14:58:35Z2015-03-25T14:58:35ZRepresentatives of small business and universities reached a significant consensus at a recent Senate hearing to identify ways to reform the patent system without hindering innovation or harming small business owners. Reform proposals are targeted at abusive behavior within the patent system, notably the activities of so-called patent trolls, though some businesses are concerned that […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277942015-03-25T14:56:32Z2015-03-25T14:56:32ZThe Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs can be critical and significant sources of funding for university innovations and start-ups. And with nearly $2 billion in funding being awarded each year, university researchers, start-up founders and TTO staff must understand how to ensure their applications stand apart from the herd. That […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277922015-03-25T14:54:34Z2015-03-25T14:54:34ZOhio State University faculty members are fighting a new proposed IP policy that they fear would give the school a claim to profits from books, articles, software and other works they create. The proposal, which is still an early draft, is meant as an update to existing IP policies that have been unchanged for 14 […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277902015-03-25T14:52:50Z2015-03-25T14:52:50ZIn a recent blog post, Gerard Eldering of InnovateTech Ventures, noted a trend toward university start-ups being run by faculty CEOs – a move he finds problematic. While acknowledging that some successes have occurred with faculty at the start-up helm, “the odds of a faculty CEO with no business experience building a strong company are […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277882015-03-25T15:00:58Z2015-03-25T14:50:55ZA group of angel investors has been so successful in helping develop companies out of IP at the University of New Mexico that they are launching a second “Startup Factory” to find and nurture potentially marketable technologies out of the state’s research universities and national labs. New Mexico Angels is a group of about 70 […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277862015-03-25T14:49:35Z2015-03-25T14:49:35ZResearchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) are developing a method to produce unprecedented amounts of polymer nanofibers, which have potential applications in filtration, batteries and cell scaffolding. The novel yet relatively simple method involves dropping liquid solution of a polymer in a beaker containing a spinning cylinder. Glycerin is used to shear the […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277842015-03-25T14:47:57Z2015-03-25T14:47:57ZIn his recent post for Entrepreneur, start-up expert Martin Zwilling urges founders to rethink the concept of a “disruptive” technology. “Every entrepreneur with a new technology tells me that his innovation will be industry-disrupting,” Zwilling writes. “Yet truly disruptive innovations, like the smartphone from Apple and the rise of the Internet, are very rare, and […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277822015-03-25T14:45:38Z2015-03-25T14:45:38ZThe Technology Transfer Tactics BEST PRACTICES COMPENDIUM is a must-have 492-page resource that’s chock-full of how-to strategies and proven best practices covering a comprehensive range of the most critical challenges facing tech transfer professionals. The BEST PRACTICES COMPENDIUM offers a cost-effective way to learn from successful tactics and programs developed and implemented by colleagues at […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277802015-03-25T14:43:43Z2015-03-25T14:43:43ZResearchers at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) have enabled an engineered gene to spread on its own throughout an organism, perhaps even an entire species. The news raised both hopes for important gene-based technologies and concern over the ethical and safety ramifications of the advance. Developed by UC San Diego biologist Ethan […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277772015-03-25T14:41:27Z2015-03-25T14:41:27ZNanoSun, a start-up from Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the China Commerce Group for International Economic Cooperation (CCIEC), a majority state-owned enterprise based in Beijing, have formed a S$4.3 million joint venture to commercialize NanoSun’s water membrane technology. The venture is expected to tap into China’s billion-dollar industrial wastewater treatment market by deploying […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277752015-03-25T14:39:35Z2015-03-25T14:39:35ZIn his recent blog post, entrepreneur and VC Alex Iskold urges start-ups not to drive up their valuations when they have little to no traction or revenue to start with. “Most founders equate valuation with the score,” Iskold writes. “They ignore other terms like control of the board, or option pool, or how debt converts.” […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277732015-03-25T14:37:54Z2015-03-25T14:37:54ZThe U.S. Air Force has partnered with Proteckt, a division of the Texas Research Institute (TRI), to develop an innovative, high-temperature, abrasion-resistant coating product that could make Air Force aircraft more reliable and easier to maintain. Aircraft coatings are typically thin and spray-applied. When exposed to high temperatures, they experience degradation, which can cause extensive […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277702015-03-25T14:35:37Z2015-03-25T14:35:37Z• Brendan Rauw has resigned from his position as head of the Office of Intellectual Property & Industry Sponsored Research at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). Rauw is also stepping down from his role as associate vice chancellor for research and CEO of Westwood Technology Transfer (WTT), a company created to assist the UCLA […]

]]>0Sara Norrishttp://www.TechTransferCentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277592015-03-31T17:40:10Z2015-03-20T17:46:15ZThe University of Notre Dame (ND.jobs) is accepting applications for a Commercialization Program Manager. Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2015. The Commercialization Program Manager (CPM) in the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) at the University of Notre Dame oversees all of the office’s business, HR, and systems activities. The CPM will promote adoption […]

]]>0Sara Norrishttp://www.TechTransferCentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277572015-03-20T18:00:25Z2015-03-20T17:37:10ZThe University of Notre Dame (ND.jobs) is accepting applications for a Senior Licensing Professional. Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2015. The Senior Licensing Professional position in the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) at the University of Notre Dame will promote the adoption of Notre Dame technologies by companies and consumers through complex, internal […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277472015-03-18T17:15:04Z2015-03-18T17:15:04ZIn an effort to demonstrate that it is not in the business of stockpiling patents, the technology transfer office (TTO) at the University of Colorado in Boulder has developed a metric it refers to as the patent utilization rate — a measure that simply denotes what percentage of all the university’s active U.S. patents have […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277452015-03-18T17:13:38Z2015-03-18T17:13:38ZLeveraging “big data” in the healthcare industry is the focus of the new Pittsburgh Health Data Alliance, a collaboration announced this week by Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC. According to the partners in the alliance, the goal is to create new data-heavy health care innovations over the coming years, resulting in […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277432015-03-18T17:11:53Z2015-03-18T17:11:53ZIn the past term, the Supreme Court ruled against patent owners in five cases, overturning five of the six decisions it reviewed from the Federal Circuit. And the advent of PTAB and post-grant review is making patents even more subject to challenge and invalidation. On top of that, it appears there will finally be a […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277412015-03-18T17:09:10Z2015-03-18T17:09:10ZLeading biomedical research center the Wistar Institute and ENVISAGE, a firm that helps launch and manages life science ventures, have partnered to leverage Wistar’s innovative science technologies by coupling it with ENVISAGE’s business expertise. “Our unique partnership emanates from pure synergy and collective desire to accelerate the advancement of Wistar’s pipeline of value-added, early-stage assets […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277392015-03-18T17:07:56Z2015-03-18T17:07:56ZA Seattle-based start-up is uniting algorithm creators with the software developers who need them to turn their ideas into products. Algorithmia opened its marketplace with more than 800 algorithms that can parse huge data sets; find analyze and recommend content; run combinatorial auctions; and much more. Today’s tech companies are gathering more data than ever […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277372015-03-18T17:06:46Z2015-03-18T17:06:46ZThe newly released 5th Edition of Royalty Rates for Trademarks & Copyrights is a must-have reference providing you with a readily accessible guide to royalty rate information for trademarks and copyrights based on over 320 real-world transactions. This unique reference contains more pricing information than any other publication, based on 25 years of research by […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277352015-03-18T17:05:19Z2015-03-18T17:05:19ZA Case Western Reserve University start-up is commercializing a small, inexpensive device capable of quickly providing a thorough blood analysis using a very small sample. With a two-year option license agreement from Case Western’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO), Apollo Medical Devices LLC was spun out from the university’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. Under the agreement, […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277332015-03-18T17:04:12Z2015-03-18T17:04:12ZDuke University has launched two investment programs with the goal of providing a total of $3 million to start-ups launched by Duke students, alumni, faculty and staff. The new Duke Angel Network will consist of university alumni interested in providing seed capital for Duke-based ventures and making a profit on those investments. According to Eric […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277312015-03-18T17:02:49Z2015-03-18T17:02:49Z MedImmune, the biologics R&D division of biopharma giant AstraZeneca, has partnered with the Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s largest diabetes research and clinical care organization, to develop new medicines to treat diabetes, obesity and related metabolic disorders. Over the course of the three-year partnership, researchers from the two institutions will work together on research projects […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277292015-03-18T17:00:57Z2015-03-18T17:00:57ZTraverse Biosciences has signed an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with the Research Foundation for the State University of New York to develop a drug to treat canine periodontal disease. The potential therapy would fulfill an unmet medical need, as periodontitis affects approximately 80% of dogs by the age of three and leads to tooth loss. […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277272015-03-18T16:59:27Z2015-03-18T16:59:27ZIn a recent article, Geektime, Israel’s largest tech news blog, advises start-ups on how to raise seed capital when they are located in a “flyover” area outside of an innovation hub. “Despite the fact that there’s more capital available to seed-stage startups than perhaps at any time in history, it’s still not easy to raise […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277252015-03-18T16:57:30Z2015-03-18T16:57:30ZThe University of Pittsburgh has selected Rebecca Bagley, former president and CEO of Northeast Ohio-based innovation organization NorTech, to serve as Pitt’s first vice chancellor for economic partnerships. In her new role, Bagley will be responsible for coordinating and expanding Pitt’s ongoing effort in economic development. She will work with senior leadership to develop a […]

]]>0Jason Norrishttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277222015-03-18T13:35:24Z2015-03-18T13:35:24ZThe following is a list of the articles that appear in the March 2015 issue of Technology Transfer Tactics monthly newsletter. If you are already a current subscriber click here to log in and access your issue. Not a subscriber already? Subscribe now and get access to this issue as well as access to our online archive […]

]]>0Sara Norrishttp://www.TechTransferCentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277172015-03-16T16:51:25Z2015-03-16T16:41:38ZTHE POSITION: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is seeking an exceptional candidate to serve as the Director, Technology Advancement Office (TAO), NIDDK. The Director of TAO leads and directs the NIDDK national program of technology transfer and development. The Director, TAO, reports directly to the Deputy Director, NIDDK and […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277082015-03-11T15:31:47Z2015-03-11T15:31:47ZRecent legislative and legal changes to patent protection paired with enhancements to trade secret protection have many technology transfer executives wondering if foregoing the high cost of patenting in favor of trade secrets might be a better move in some cases. But while trade secrets may have a legitimate place in a TTO’s overall IP […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277062015-03-11T15:29:21Z2015-03-11T15:29:21ZIn his recent blog post, patent attorney Ray Ricordati examines new guidelines from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in the wake of Alice v. CLS Bank, last year’s landmark case in which the Supreme Court put tighter restrictions on the patenting of abstract ideas in computer software. USPTO has issued Interim Guidelines for […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277042015-03-11T15:26:49Z2015-03-11T15:26:49ZWhen it comes to finding licensees, the mainstream market players may seem to be your best bet. But that’s not necessarily the case if your innovations are too similar to their existing product lines. Established companies often see these licensing opportunities as a cannibalism of their current market share. But don’t toss your inventions aside […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277022015-03-11T15:23:07Z2015-03-11T15:23:07ZIn his recent article for First Round Review, angel investor and start-up advisor Paul Arnold offers entrepreneurs a few first-hand tips on how to get the most out of their investors, who can do plenty to help your start-up beyond funding. “Helping investors help you is a rare, impactful skill for a founder to have,” […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277002015-03-11T15:21:23Z2015-03-11T15:21:23ZA University of Vermont (UVM) researcher is developing a computer-aided therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart rhythm disorder. Cardiologist and heart rhythm specialist Peter Spector, MD, has already earned a patent for his treatment for AF, which affects roughly six to eight million Americans and is responsible for about 20% of strokes. […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276982015-03-11T15:19:49Z2015-03-11T15:19:49ZA University of Alabama (UA) professor is developing a novel way to capture greenhouse emissions from industrial plants. According to Jason E. Bara, engineering professor at UA, the most common method for capturing emissions, using a chemical compound called monoethanolamine (MEA), is too costly to build and operate for the energy industry to embrace it […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276962015-03-11T15:18:30Z2015-03-11T15:18:30ZIn his recent blog post on the political site The Hill, Christopher Scott McCannell, head of financial services practices for D.C.-based public affairs firm APCO Worldwide, argues that a little known rule change that stems from one provision of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act regarding investor accreditation could have a drastic impact on capital formation, […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276942015-03-11T15:16:48Z2015-03-11T15:16:48ZOak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee and RMX Technologies, a Knoxville-based start-up, are working together to develop a new, cost-effective way to manufacture carbon fiber for the automobile industry. Over the next decade, automakers are facing mandated fuel economy targets, and to achieve them they need to reduce the weight of vehicles. Many are […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276922015-03-11T15:15:07Z2015-03-11T15:15:07ZThis one-of-a-kind resource provides a rich set of benchmarks and data to compare against your own practices and experience regarding the payment and management of filing and annuity fees in your patent portfolio. Plus it’s jam-packed with dozens of easy to scan charts and figures displaying critical data you can’t find in any other publication. […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276902015-03-11T15:12:30Z2015-03-11T15:12:07ZA student start-up at Auburn University has commercialized a computer-based classroom observation system that is helping more than 25,000 educators at over 500 schools worldwide. Founded by Auburn software engineering and business analytics major Ben Gustafon and his high school classmate Tyler Smith, Classroom Mosaic offers school administrators a web-based observation checklist accessible on an […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276882015-03-11T15:10:24Z2015-03-11T15:10:24ZResearchers at the University of Utah (U of U) aim to commercialize a high-speed camera system that captures free-falling ice crystals to anticipate the severity of snowfall. The technology could help departments of transportation anticipate road conditions and improve public safety in the midst of inclement winter weather. “Right now, the problem in the transportation […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=277102015-03-11T15:40:25Z2015-03-11T15:10:12ZThe University of Montana recently announced it will enter an exclusive agreement with Promentis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to commercialize a discovery made by a team of UM scientists that has the potential to treat brain cancer and possibly other disorders of the central nervous system. The team’s studies primarily focus on transporter proteins found on cells […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276862015-03-11T15:09:05Z2015-03-11T15:09:05Z• The Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) has named Brian E. Edelman, a veteran in corporate finance, its new chief financial officer and treasurer. Most recently, Edelman served as vice president of corporate finance and investment banking at global pharma company Eli Lilly and Co., where he was responsible for closing over $20 billion in transactions including […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276622015-03-04T16:15:33Z2015-03-04T16:15:33ZA group of 144 universities has warned the U.S. House and Senate Judiciary Committees that pending legislation on patent litigation abuses is too broad and could actually weaken the nation’s patent system and restrict the flow of technologies from universities to the marketplace. In a letter to committee leaders, the universities claim the legislation would […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276602015-03-04T16:14:11Z2015-03-04T16:14:11ZThe Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs can be critical and significant sources of funding for university innovations and start-ups. And with nearly $2 billion in funding being awarded each year, university researchers, start-up founders and TTO staff must understand how to ensure their applications stand apart from the herd. That […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276582015-03-04T16:12:22Z2015-03-04T16:12:22ZOpening an extension of your tech transfer program in another country is not like opening one across the state, especially when the other country is as culturally and politically different as China. But some TTO programs are finding that the opportunities for commercialization make the effort worthwhile. Just know what you’re getting into before you […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276562015-03-04T16:10:24Z2015-03-04T16:10:00ZChina is considering a draft law amendment that aims to boost the commercialization of technologies developed at research institutions and universities. The proposed measure would revise the Law on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements, enacted in 1996, by introducing ways to motivate research and engage industry in helping to develop academic discoveries […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276542015-03-04T16:08:46Z2015-03-04T16:08:46ZIn his recent blog post, Albert Wenger, partner at Union Square Ventures, warns entrepreneurs not to neglect the post-money valuation of their companies. “Many entrepreneurs seem to believe that only two numbers matter in a financing: the amount of the raise and the dilution,” Wenger writes. But entrepreneurs often forget about the post-money valuation, which […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276492015-03-04T16:03:43Z2015-03-04T16:03:43ZIn his recent article for Entrepreneur, Zach Cutler, founder of trading firm the Cutler Group, offers start-ups a few tips on how to reach tech reporters. The truth is, he says, most entrepreneurs are too wrapped up in the company and product to see the bigger picture of public relations. To Cutler, that’s where investors […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276472015-03-04T16:02:17Z2015-03-04T16:02:17ZA new technology developed by a New Mexico State University researcher could revolutionize carbon dioxide capture and have a significant impact on reducing pollution worldwide, according to the school. The Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office at NMSU’s Arrowhead Center is working to protect and commercialize the technology, which was developed by chemical and materials […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276452015-03-04T16:00:18Z2015-03-04T16:00:18ZAs PTAB becomes a critical venue in the intellectual property landscape, the reference Post-Grant Patent Practice has become more timely and critical than ever before. This detailed guide helps patent and IP professionals navigate all USPTO post-issuance procedures. Written by four former USPTO Administrative Patent Judges, this 870-page resource captures the full nuance of post-grant […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276432015-03-04T15:57:40Z2015-03-04T15:57:40ZThe Corporate Engagement Team at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, has created a new version of its Business Portal, a website designed in consultation with industry leaders to serve corporate partners in the state. The portal offers users easy access to four key areas — research, technology licensing, professional development and recruiting — […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276392015-03-04T15:55:43Z2015-03-04T15:50:59ZThe Office of Technology Transfer and Economic Development (OTTED) at the University of Hawaii (UH) has hired Leigh-Ann Miyasato, Honolulu-based attorney and entrepreneurship expert, to serve as a technology licensing associate. Miyasato will focus on creating legal contracts and incentive programs for university tech transfer. Prior to joining UH, Miyasato founded the Entrepreneurs Foundation of […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276262015-02-25T14:45:04Z2015-02-25T14:45:04ZThe University of Cincinnati has completely revamped its approach to tech transfer, and so far the new model appears to be a success. After launching a pilot program of its UC Technology Accelerator for Commercialization in 2012, it has provided funding for 13 new projects, with five more anticipated shortly, and launched four new start-ups […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276242015-02-25T14:43:40Z2015-02-25T14:43:40ZPatent attorney and founder of the site IP Watchdog Gene Quinn has accused a recent report on technology transfer of using improper methods and drawing misleading conclusions on the efficacy of patent licensing. According to the study, conducted by professor Robin Feldman at UC-Hastings Law and professor Mark Lemley at Standord Law, patent licensing does […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276222015-02-25T14:41:43Z2015-02-25T14:41:43ZMore university TTOs are looking to support early-stage technologies and start-ups by entering the promising new world of crowdfunding. But participation in crowdfunding is not necessarily a slam-dunk, and it presents a whole set of new challenges both in regulatory compliance as well as managing conflicts of interest. Whether you are handling crowdfunding projects through […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276202015-02-25T14:35:43Z2015-02-25T14:35:43ZNortheastern University has launched a campus-wide mentoring network to help student and faculty entrepreneurs create and manage their start-ups. With financial support from alumnus and venture capitalist Jeff McCarthy, the Daniel J. McCarthy Venture Mentoring Network (VMN) matches university entrepreneurs with experienced mentors — mostly alumni and their professional contacts — who carry the expertise […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276182015-02-25T14:34:08Z2015-02-25T14:34:08ZThe University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) have partnered to boost the commercialization of medical technologies and services developed by Pitt researchers. The new agreement is designed to draw on the strengths of each institution and offer the dual benefit of bringing new advances in health care to the […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276162015-02-25T14:32:28Z2015-02-25T14:32:28ZGeorgia State University (GSU) has licensed a series of leukemia-fighting compounds to China-based Cisen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Developed by GSU researcher Binghe Wang in collaboration with professor Muxiang Zhou of Emory University, the drug is designed to treat leukemia and other cancers by regulating the levels of p53, a protein considered the “guardian of the […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276142015-02-25T14:30:20Z2015-02-25T14:30:20ZIt’s no secret that faculty researchers and student innovators don’t typically have a clear understanding of intellectual property law — but the consequences of simple errors that arise from lack of basic know-how can be devastating to future patent protection and commercialization plans. That’s why Technology Transfer Tactics’ Distance Learning Division has created IP Law […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276122015-02-25T14:16:04Z2015-02-25T14:16:04ZA $1 million fund managed by the University of New Mexico (UNM) Foundation has invested $498,000 into four start-ups that are working to take UNM technologies to market. The fund allows UNM’s tech transfer arm, Science and Technology Corp. (STC), to propose direct investments in university start-ups on a one-for-one matching basis with private investors […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276102015-02-25T14:14:39Z2015-02-25T14:14:39ZIn his recent blog post, start-up investor and consultant Martin Zwilling urges entrepreneurs to promote their product not as an advanced technology but as a tangible solution to a customer problem. “Technologies are perceived by most customers as causing more pain than the problems they eliminate,” Zwilling writes. “I chastise these start-ups to highlight the […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=276082015-02-25T14:12:54Z2015-02-25T14:12:54Z In his recent blog post, Hope Hartman, vice president of business development at tech transfer information management firm Inteum, offers tips for the successful management of license compliance. In Hartman’s experience, some licensees who veer out of compliance fearfully avoid their licensor because they need more time to fulfill their obligations. On the other end, […]

]]>0Sara Norrishttp://www.TechTransferCentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275862015-03-12T23:59:12Z2015-02-23T22:12:03ZThe technology transfer team at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated employee for the position of business developer with a focus on life sciences. We are a team of seven dedicated specialists that are seeking a new colleague to manage and drive the commercialization of novel research results […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275652015-02-18T17:15:34Z2015-02-18T17:15:34ZThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has filed a patent lawsuit against Apple and its suppliers, claiming that semiconductor wafers found in the company’s computers and mobile devices infringe on a patent won by two MIT professors over 15 years ago. Filed last Thursday in Boston federal court, the lawsuit claims that Idaho-based chip maker […]

]]>1David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275632015-02-18T17:14:24Z2015-02-18T17:14:24ZRecent U.S. Supreme Court rulings as well as the political push to combat patent trolls suggest that patent ownership in general is becoming more vulnerable. In the past term, the Supreme Court ruled against patent owners in five cases, overturning five of the six decisions it reviewed from the Federal Circuit. On top of that, […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275612015-02-18T17:11:56Z2015-02-18T17:11:56ZA student researcher at Dalhousie University in Halifax is developing a topical cream that would make unwanted tattoo ink eventually fade away from human skin. There are current methods for tattoo removal, most notably using lasers, but they come at an unsightly cost. “You see the burns, the scarring, the blisters,” says Alec Falkenham, a […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275572015-02-18T17:09:42Z2015-02-18T17:09:42ZPurdue University’ Office of Technology Commercialization is coming off of a banner year: The number of IP-based start-ups in fiscal year 2014 was triple what the university generated the year before; global and U.S.-issued patents are up by a third; and licensing deals have increased by 20%. The increases are no accident. They follow a […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275552015-02-18T17:07:42Z2015-02-18T17:07:42ZThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has created a new Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) to help expand the commercial impact of its research projects. The new OTT will work closely with the 17 national labs and engage with industry to take DOE technologies to market and strengthen the global competitiveness of tech and science […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275532015-02-18T17:06:12Z2015-02-18T17:06:12ZEasy Access IP, an initiative founded by UK universities to make it easier to commercialize academic research, has attracted its first UK government agency to participate in the plan. The UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will now share some of its research royalty free, making it the first UK government agency to do […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275512015-02-18T17:04:11Z2015-02-18T17:04:11ZThe all-new Survey of Sponsored Research Agreements between the Private Sector and Higher Education includes data, in-depth commentary, and analysis based on extensive survey results from 19 offices of sponsored research, largely from major universities in the United States and Canada. This one-of-a-kind resource provides a rich set of benchmarks and data to compare against […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275492015-02-18T17:02:06Z2015-02-18T17:02:06ZIn his recent article for IP Watchdog, patent attorney Gene Quinn urges inventors to be realistic about the true market potential for their invention, no matter how groundbreaking it is perceived to be. “There is nothing wrong with dreaming,” writes Quinn. After all, inventors typically get very excited and optimistic when they’ve created something that […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275472015-02-18T16:59:37Z2015-02-18T16:59:37ZA University of Queensland (UQ) start-up developing a novel vaccine delivery technology recently raised US$20 million, both from new and existing investors. Vaxxas’ patented Nanopatch platform, based on research from UQ professor Mark Kendall, uses a patch containing microscopic projections instead of the traditional needle and syringe to vaccinate against major diseases. The technology avoids […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275452015-02-18T16:58:15Z2015-02-18T16:58:15ZThe University of Colorado-Boulder has inked a worldwide licensing deal with Kelvin Thermal Technologies that will allow the company to develop and market thermal management technologies used in making ultra-thin and flexible smartphones, wearable electronics, and other commercial and military systems. As computers, smartphones and other systems become more advanced and consume more power in […]

]]>0Jason Norrishttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275272015-02-13T15:02:57Z2015-02-13T15:02:57ZThe following is a list of the articles that appear in the February 2015 issue of Technology Transfer Tactics monthly newsletter. If you are already a current subscriber click here to log in and access your issue. Not a subscriber already? Subscribe now and get access to this issue as well as access to our online archive […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275122015-02-11T16:58:08Z2015-02-11T16:58:08ZIn a guest post for popular patent law blog IP Watchdog, Fatih Ozluturk, principal with the Soryn IP Group and also director of patent strategy at Liquid Patent Consulting, dismembers the just-reintroduced patent reform bill called the Innovation Act. While supporting several of the bill’s measures, others he describes as not only unnecessary but ultimately […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275102015-02-11T16:55:23Z2015-02-11T16:55:23ZMore university TTOs are looking to support early-stage technologies and start-ups by entering the promising new world of crowdfunding. But participation in crowdfunding is not necessarily a slam-dunk, and it presents a whole set of new challenges both in regulatory compliance as well as managing conflicts of interest. Whether you are handling crowdfunding projects through […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275082015-02-11T16:52:34Z2015-02-11T16:52:34ZWashington University in St. Louis is launching its version of an express license for faculty start-ups, which it has branded the Quick Start License. Tech transfer and university officials there hope the new tool will boost start-up formation. “The Quick Start License is a direct response to our market and campus needs,” Provost Holden Thorp, […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275062015-02-11T16:50:39Z2015-02-11T16:50:39ZA technology developed at the University of Rochester (UR) for the diagnosis of breast cancer has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Invented by professor Ruola Ning, PhD, of the UR Medical Center, the Koning Breast CT (KBCT) 3D imaging system disperses x-rays in the shape of a large cone instead […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275042015-02-11T16:49:21Z2015-02-11T16:49:21ZSometimes a straight line is not the shortest way, at least when it comes to finding licensees. One veteran licensor says in many cases it makes more sense to steer just outside what logically is your primary target and seek out licensees on the periphery of that target group. Lee M. Taylor, JD, vice president […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275022015-02-11T16:46:33Z2015-02-11T16:46:33ZIn his recent blog post, patent attorney Larry Schroepfer discusses a dreaded clause for licensors: the Most Favored Licensee (MFL) clause. Put simply, the MFL clause says that if the licensor ever gives another licensee any better (as in cheaper) terms, the licensor has to extend those terms to the original licensee. Licensees can also […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=275002015-02-11T16:44:21Z2015-02-11T16:44:21ZThird Rock Ventures, a leading healthcare venture firm, has granted $45 million in Series A funding to REVOLUTION Medicines Inc., a start-up from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that is taking a novel approach to drug discovery through redesigning complex molecules. Based on the research of its scientific advisory board chairman Martin D. Burke, […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274982015-02-11T16:42:59Z2015-02-11T16:42:59ZCornell University has restructured its commercialization program, and recently announced the creation of a new Center for Technological Licensing. According to school officials, the center is part of a reshaping of the former Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise & Commercialization designed to “clarify its role in technology transfer.” The new center’s interim director, Alice Li, […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274962015-02-11T16:41:26Z2015-02-11T16:41:26ZThe University of Cincinnati’s Lindner College of Business and UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (CEC) have teamed up with NASA’s Ames Research Center to bring NASA scientists into the business school’s undergrad and graduate entrepreneurship classes. With a focus on technology commercialization, the classes will connect students with the NASA scientists via webcam or […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274942015-02-11T16:39:41Z2015-02-11T16:39:41ZIn a guest post for the Patently-O blog, Andrew Blair-Stanek, assistant professor of law at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, provides an important tip for patent holders accused of infringement, particularly if that accusation comes from a large multinational company. Those companies, he points out, must routinely report to the IRS, under […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274922015-02-11T16:38:11Z2015-02-11T16:38:11ZWith the just-published 2nd Edition of Intellectual Property Valuation Case Law Compendium, you’ll find over 170 court case abstracts along with full-text opinions of cases focused on disputes over the value of intellectual property, and how that amount is calculated. The Compendium also includes court case digests written by a team of internationally recognized legal […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274902015-02-11T16:36:49Z2015-02-11T16:36:49ZScientists from Aberdeen University have secured a U.S. patent for their new immunization technology which aims to use shark antibodies to blast tumors. A team from the university’s Scottish Biologics Drug Discovery Facility have already had the work patented all over the world, but the extension to America opens up a much wider field of […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274882015-02-11T16:35:13Z2015-02-11T16:35:13ZGordon Jones, who heads the Harvard Innovation Lab, has accepted a new position as dean of the College of Innovation and Design at Boise State University. He will stay on at Harvard through the end of the academic year in June. He hopes to spread Harvard’s success with the i-lab, which he helped launch in […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274612015-02-04T16:39:32Z2015-02-04T16:39:32ZThe University of Minnesota’s unexpected patent infringement lawsuit against the nation’s four largest wireless service providers is simply an example of an IP owner protecting its valuable property, according to both school officials and tech transfer observers. Charges that the lawsuit represents a trend in universities battling back against reduced research funding by flexing their […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274592015-02-04T16:38:15Z2015-02-04T16:38:15ZWith centers and programs for entrepreneurship steadily popping up on college campuses across the U.S., it’s worth noting that Drexel University was ahead of the game when it launched the country’s first stand-alone school of entrepreneurship in 2013. The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship made Drexel the first university in the U.S. to offer […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274572015-02-04T16:36:43Z2015-02-04T16:36:43ZMany policies governing university-derived intellectual property have not been reviewed or altered for decades — yet the world of research commercialization has changed dramatically. Strategic corporate alliances, faculty and student start-ups, joint development projects have all become major imperatives for tech transfer offices, but too often rigid IP policies fail to support these efforts — […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274532015-02-04T16:32:16Z2015-02-04T16:32:16ZBoston Children’s Hospital and health care services company Raiing Medical Inc. have entered into a licensing agreement to commercialize a Boston Children’s web technology designed to help parents learn more about fever, illness and fever management. The Thermia education platform will be integrated with Railing’s iThermonitor device, a wearable thermometer that has been cleared by […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274512015-02-04T16:30:04Z2015-02-04T16:30:04ZColumbia Technology Ventures, the tech transfer arm of Columbia University, has licensed to one of the university’s start-ups a promising oral medication intended to slow or halt the progression of “dry” Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). There is currently no FDA-approved treatment for dry AMD, a degenerative condition that can severely impair visual function and affects […]

]]>0Jason Norrishttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274482015-02-04T16:28:27Z2015-02-04T16:28:27Z In his recent blog post, Jay Acunzo of seed stage investment group NextView Ventures advises founders on how many VCs they should pitch to during a Series A funding round. Of course, it depends in part on the start-up, just like in any other facet of launching a venture. “The key isn’t to engage a […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274462015-02-04T16:21:10Z2015-02-04T16:21:10ZNew Mexico Angels is launching its second Startup Factory, a seed funding program designed to help commercialize research from the state’s research universities and national labs. Composed of about 70 individuals who pool their resources to invest in university start-ups, NM Angels is raising $150,000 to launch New Mexico Startup Factory II by March. The […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274442015-02-04T16:19:33Z2015-02-04T16:19:33ZUniversities worldwide are being called upon like never before to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and the commercialization of research — and to demonstrate the results of their efforts in terms of economic impact. Jobs, payrolls, and tax receipts have become some of the new metrics for tech transfer organizations as local, state and national government leaders […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274422015-02-04T16:17:00Z2015-02-04T16:17:00Z In his recent article for Entrepreneur, start-up advisor Martin Zwilling tells founders that if you want to get any kind of funding whatsoever, you need a real business plan. “Don’t believe the Silicon Valley myth that all you have to do is sketch your million-dollar idea on the back of a napkin and investors will […]

]]>0David Schwartzhttp://techtransfercentral.comhttp://techtransfercentral.com/?p=274402015-02-04T16:15:33Z2015-02-04T16:15:33ZResearchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have developed software that helps police departments investigate online ads that offer prostitution services. Developed by a research team under Artur Dubrawski of CMU’S Robotics Institute, Traffic Jam is intended to expose sex traffickers who exploit disenfranchised female teenagers and women. The software gives police a rapid way to […]